Is it Fall already? Yesterday evening, we celebrated Otsukimi, the full moon viewing. The tradition dates to the Heian era 794-1185.

Tsukimi traditions include displaying decorations made from Japanese pampas grass (susuki) and eating rice dumplings called Tsukimi dango in order to celebrate the beauty of the moon. Seasonal produce are also displayed as offerings to the moon like sweet potatoes. My friend Akiyo brought us some little rabbits that she had bought at the famous sweet shop Turaya from Kyoto. We had them before heading out to watch the moon.

The sweets are shaped as rabbits because according to the Japanese tradition, rabbits live in the moon. The sweets were made of mochi rice outside and white bean paste inside.